Originally Posted by
Mecanix
You need to worry about clearances and tolerances of those moving components internally (gears, races/bearings, seals, shafts, sensors, etc). Compromising those casting structurally, torquing and hanging stuff on precision components' enclosures isn't the engineer's first choice, normally. So don't expect anyone (HAAS included) to give you a bright green light on that idea. However if there is really no other solution that comes to mind, by all means stab the thing and tap it to your liking (its yours).
I feel ya about that vendor's need for selling NEW & Expensive thingy. Been there done that each and every-time I needed proprietary 'add-ons' for the bigger shop. A device with any-precision-anything is always +20k, and that extra and mandatory control license add-on to drive it is most likely +2k. Just never stops. Being at the mercy of those automation manufacturers isn't new, get used to it ;-)
Have fun!